Edinburgh Pre - view... Writing stand-up comedy.

This is what writing with a stand-up actually looks like. 

There's probably some hints in there about some of the topics coming up in John Gordillo's 2008 Edinburgh Show, "DIVIDE AND CONGA".

We've been working together over the year in sessions that look much like this. 
Probably best I don't share what they sound like - saying wrong things out loud in a bid to get to the things John wants to say in public.

A mate once best dubbed this process as performers gaining "mouth rights" over the material. 

One month left for some more 'mouth wrongs'...
Preview gigs are linked here.

KateModern - Out on a high

After 322 episodes... 66 million cumulative video hits... 6 million bebo profile views... Two BAFTA Craft and WEBBY nominations and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award...

Season 2 of KateModern comes to an end this week. It has been a phenomenal experience writing episode scripts and storylining on this show - the best writers room experience with Luke Hyams and Lawrence Tallis - and a frontline lesson in what works for this genre and medium.
There is a true difference between online drama and "TV show broadcast on the web".

The season finale of 12 videos in 12 hours (together with the entire KateModern series 1 and 2) can be found here:-
www.lg15.com/katemodern
and here:-
www.bebo.com/katemodern

The wiki maintained by the fans of KateModern and lonelygirl15 is here:-
http://www.lg15.com/lgpedia/index.php?title=Image:KM_Portal_Season_2.jpg

Here is a GMTV behind-the-scenes shoot:-




And an article in today's SUN.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv

All my KateModern links can be found by clicking on here.

And I'll be talking at the SCREENWRITERS' FESTIVAL 2008 in Cheltenham on Wednesday 2nd July in the session: Online and Multi-Platform narratives.

Neil Mossey Online writing biog

From time to time, I am asked to speak at conferences and presentations about what it was like writing on the web series lonelygirl15 and KateModern. These events usually ask for a biography to appear in their brochure.
Here is my online writing biog...

Neil grew up in Central London, and worked solely in television and radio before writing on Season 2 of the daily interactive web drama KateModern (storylining over 26 weeks, and scripting 74 webisodes). The series ended in July 2008 clocking up 66 million video views, the largest UK online production to date.

As a comedy producer at the BBC he was responsible for developing new formats and drama in the Comedy Entertainment department with writers and performers(including “Stockport So Good They Named It Once” starring Dominic Monaghan and Jason Done, “Head Over Heels” starring Daniela Denby-Ashe, and co-writing the BBC’s first daily comedy series “The Recommended Daily Allowance with John Gordillo”).

His freelance writer, script editor, and producer credits include "My Parents Are Aliens" (itv1), "Freefonix" (BBC One), "Blackout" (Channel 4), "SuperNormal" (itv1), "The Worst Witch" (itv1), "Hedz" (BBC One), and "The Morning After Show" (Channel 4).

www.neilmossey.com

Fourth Hedz Better Than One

BBC TWO this week transmit the sketch show HEDZ for the FOURTH TIME!
(Writer on this last summer).



"Thirrd re-run make Gordon mad!"

Hurrah for us and BBC Scotland.

N.B. If you're here, you'll probably be interested in this site the BBC are beta testing- It's a permanent home for a list of upcoming and past transmissions of BBC shows.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes

KATEMODERN

KATEMODERN - bebo.com/lonelygirl15 Productions

Writer - Season 2 of hit online drama.

Storylining 26 weeks and scripting 74 episodes for daily show embedded in the social networking site bebo.com.

The series ended in July 2008 clocking up 66 million video views, the largest UK online production to date.

I blog about the experience on my online drama site here, and give talks on what it's like writing for online narrative to academic institutions, production companies and broadcasters.




RTE INTERVIEW ABOUT WRITING ON KATEMODERN

This was an interview I gave in Ireland on The Dave Fanning Show on RTE RADIO 1 - the inside skinny on writing on Season 2 of KateModern.

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0421/drivetimewithdave.html




Here are some press articles on the show...

Kate Modern herself was killed off at the start of the second series; a bit of a bold move you might think, but the format of the show means it is constantly breaking new ground.“You can interact with the story, talk to the characters, comment on the plot – we get feedback all the time,” explains Rushton.

“What I find so interesting is the fact that people are coming together and discussing the show, but they’re also coming together to discuss things that lie outside of the show that affect them. People actually come to you on Bebo and share their experiences and they feel like they’ve got a place to do that. It’s the way that communication is going.”

The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/music-film/modern-miss-817538.html

We told you last month about the planned wrap-up of KateModern, the very successful Internet television show exclusive to the AOL-owned Bebo social network.

Well, today’s the day that all is put to pasture. KateModern is having its finale, and it’s going out with 12 episodes in 12 hours. The countdown to the series close began earlier this morning and will stretch to 7PM EST, with hourly videos releases complemented by live chats with and among the fanbase.

In fact, due to its viral achievements EQAL was able to secure both a $5 million Series A funding round and CBS partnership in the space of a single month.

Mashable.com
http://mashable.com/2008/06/28/katemodern-2

BEBO's Kate Modern has become an internet sensation since being launched a year ago.
More than 66 million people have logged on to view the interactive online drama's 'webisodes' since July 2007.

TV Biz has an exclusive preview of this week's season 2 finale for your pleasure. It features Ralf Little and man-of-the-moment Noel Clarke - who wrote, directed and starred in the Kidulthood and Adulthood films.

The Sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1345446.ece

Who killed KateModern? It's the question that has been occupying several million minds since the beginning of the year, when the heroine of the eponymously named online drama met her end. Kate, for those who have been living in a bunker since July 2007, is, or rather, was, a troubled teenage university art student living in London. She had a dark past that she was unable to remember and was somehow connected to a secret organisation called The Order.

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/03/digitalmedia.web20

Social networking site Bebo is to shock fans of hit online drama Kate Modern by killing off its eponymous star in the first episode of its new series.

The series' first sponsors - which get to see their products placed within the video - will be Cadbury's Creme Egg and Toyota's youth-targeted car Aygo. Sponsors of the first series included Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Warner Music, Paramount and Orange, which each paid up to £250,000 to appear within the show.

No figures have been revealed about what each company might pay to be involved with the second series.

However, each company stumps up cash based on the amount its brand is integrated into the storyline, which includes monitoring the number of times it appears in the video and is mentioned in the script.

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/16/bebo.television

KateModern, the flagship online drama broadcast by social networking site Bebo, will wrap up for the last time at the end of June, it was announced today.

The last part of series two will air on June 28, with Bebo promising a "high octane" ending with multiple episodes.

Featuring Royle Family star Ralph Little, the interactive drama has run for more than 300 four-minute episodes since it launched in July last year, racking up more than 57 million views.

Bebo wanted the show to "encourage unprecedented interactivity" with its audience and has also tried to distinguish itself from rival social networking sites by building up original content.

Users are given interactive tools to "talk" to KateModern characters and producers from the series, suggest storylines and solve puzzles in the plot.

The Bebo president, Joanna Shields, said KateModern has "created a new genre and demonstrated the power of media on a social network with gripping storylines and peerless production values".

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/12/bebo.web20


Recommended Reading...

The Creators of lonelygirl15 explain the mythology, buisness and future of the show...
http://www.thedeal.com/blogs/video/tech-confidential/lonelygirl15-creators-beckett.php




FAVOURITE EPS

Raise The Roof - The week-long crossover with lonelygirl15 - both US and UK storylines converge for the arrival of Jonas...
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=301

Outta here - and this is the last lonelygirl15 day in the UK...
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=303

Special Relationship - Lauren tries explaining her story
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=296

WC One - The gang are worried about their boss
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=241

2008 Will Not Suck: Charlie interviews for a roommate
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=222

The Invitation - Rupert Van Helden posts a video invite to his Hymn Of One wedding
http://www.lg15.com/katemodern/?p=316


CLICK HERE for details of my ONLINE WRITING

HEDZ

HEDZ - BBC SCOTLAND for BBC ONE

Lead writer (with Ed Dyson) on double BAFTA winning live action CBBC sketch series.
Over two hours of material over 8 episodes.

http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/nominations-childrens-awards-in-2008,593,BA.html

IT'S THAT JO CAULFIELD AGAIN

IT'S THAT JO CAULFIELD AGAIN (Series 3) - So Television for BBC RADIO 4

Writer/Producer - Radio 4 sketch series starring stand-up comedian JO CAULFIELD
- and material for UK Tour.




IT'S THAT JO CAULFIELD AGAIN (Series 2) - So Television for BBC RADIO 4

Writer - Radio 4 sketch series starring stand-up comedian JO CAULFIELD
- and material for UK Tour.


CLICK HERE FOR A SKETCH

OR CLICK THE BIG PINK BUTTON BELOW:

DEN OF DOOM

DEN OF DOOM - THE FOUNDATION/GRANADA for itv1

Writer - Gameshow hosted by two Hyenas who try to eat the contestants.
13x 30 minute

Five contestants. All kids. All friends.
If you lose, you plunge into Scratch and Sniff's cooking pot.

Spent a great autumn scripting on this with writing buddy ED DYSON.

MY PARENTS ARE ALIENS (Series 8)

MY PARENTS ARE ALIENS (Series 8) - GRANADA for ITV1

Writer - Sitcom. An alien couple foster a family on Earth.

"THE BABYSITTER" - co-written with Robert Venes
BRIAN and SOPHIE employ Jaq's arch enemy Selena to babysit the children, but must resort to desperate tactics when they cannot get her out of the house.

SUPERNORMAL

SUPERNORMAL - GRANADA/ WORLD LEADERS INC. international co-production for itv1

SCRIPT EXECUTIVE - Cartoon. 52 Episodes.

Eric Normal is a kid at superhero school with no super powers whatsoever.
Following the adventures of four of the less promising students of Super Hero Junior High.

Writers based in LA and UK including DAN DANKO and TOM MASON, ANDY GUERDAT and STEVE SULLIVAN, PAUL ROSE, and RICHARD PREDDY.